The Shroud descends on mobile

When we heard The Shroud aimed to provide a deep roleplaying experience akin to a console title, we raised an eyebrow.

When we subsequently discovered that the game was also going to be implementing hefty community and location-based elements (so that events in game would be affected by your physical location) our remaining eyebrow joined the other.

But there simply wasn't space on our foreheads to register our astonishment when we found out that The Shroud was also going to try to make young farmers cool!

The Shroud is without doubt an ambitious mobile game, possibly the most ambitious in conception that we've yet come across (with the exception perhaps of the eagerly anticipated Shadow Born). Although the plot itself isn't strikingly original, concerning as it does the arrival of shadowy forces of darkness in an otherwise peaceful farming community, the actual game experience most certainly should be.

Placed in the role of hero Taro, you'll be unsurprised to hear that your new role involves a fair amount of questing, item collection and combat against evil minions.

But you also have to find the time to run a farm!

Oh yes, the end of the world may well be nigh, but not before you've finished your chores my boy. Like so many of us in the modern world, Taro has to multitask, combining his daily farming, fishing and mining duties with battling the darkest denizens of hell in the evenings (perhaps he gets Sunday off).

The two elements aren't completely unconnected. By successfully planting, watering and harvesting crops, tending livestock and fishing, you can sell goods, and so get extra weapons to take on the assorted Skeletons, Golems and Breach Keepers that have issued forth from a breach or wardrobe somewhere.

You don't have to solely dig for victory, either. You can also earn cash and goods by winning battles and mining gems. The latter can be traded, or given to other characters to win respect.

With a huge inventory of items to discover, including swords (for slashing), bow and arrow (for shooting), shovel (digging) and fishing pole (work it out) and a host of mini-games (the chicken race already has our vote), The Shroud promises to be a cracking standalone game in its own right. (Those of you thinking Zelda meets Harvest Moon on mobile aren't alone.)

However, where it gets really interesting is with the addition of community features, such as the International Farmer's League. This will enable players to share secrets, tips and scores, and will support location-based events (turn up at a specific location to unlock items, say, or take on a challenge).

There's one fly in the ointment. So far, the only release details confirmed are for the US, where The Shroud is hitting the sidewalks this Spring. There are positive noises though that it could see a corner of a UK field soon after (possibly without all the location-based features to begin with).

If the game fulfils even a fraction of its promise, we'll certainly be pushing first-time developer Your World Games to bring it over. As ever, stay tuned!